• Mountains seemed to grow bigger and bigger, while the trio passed over a broken tree over a large lake, gripping the wood with their life. Shen’s paw slipped downward, throwing her totally off balance. She screamed, squeezing her eyes shut as tight as she possibly could.
    “I’m dying... I’m dying... I’m dying...” She whispered over and over, though her claws were dug about and inch into the wood, making it impossible for her to fall.
    Coy threw his head back and barked a husky laughter, “Shen, ye not dying! Ye not even falling!” He chuckled, and Kioshi giggle along, already on the other side. “Now, get ye butt up – Yakedo territory be less than a few yards away.” He pushed her up by his nose, and Shen continued to walk – slower and more cautiously – the rest of the way, her tail between her legs like a little lost puppy on a cold rainy day.
    After Shen finally got over her ‘near-death’ situation and Coy had gotten over successfully, too, they all sighed in relief.
    “I’m gonna hate bridges for the rest of my life now.” Shen muttered, getting a few laughs out of her other two companions. She stopped when she smelled and unfamiliar and very strange scent – it washed over her quickly – it was different from the scent of pine and oak and wildflowers and grass. “What the heck is that?!” She asked in pure confusion, sniffing the air in wonder.
    “That be the smell of the border. Time to face Yakedo territory,” Coy nodded, sniffing the air, too, “It does smell strange, don’t it?” He said with a smile. His smile faded, and he stood completely still. He looked like a statue.
    “Coy, what’s—?”
    “Shh!” Shen was silenced, and then the Yakedo scent was even stronger. Her eyes widened in realization. She growled, but stood in remote and complete shock. Kioshi stood in front of her – guarding her, it seemed – and growled, too, at the rustling bush.
    “It’s them!” Shen said in shocked whispers. “T-the Yakedo!” A well built and lithe wolf stepped out slowly, small and thin. Probably from lack of food – that’s how all wolves were. The mud markings of swirls and foreign designs danced on his fur, which showed confidence and pride.
    “Rogues! What are you outcasts doing here?!” His voice was somewhat calm, and his eyes were guarded and showed no fear. His eyes were locked on Shen and Kioshi, but his voice was directed to Coy.
    “Nice to see ye again, Juno.” Coy muttered. All attention was now focused on Coy. He opened his grey muzzle in a long sigh, and got ready to explain to all three wolves.
    “I used to be in the Yakedo clan,” – he ignored the gasps from the three – “and I was a youngin’ then. I had always wanted a son of me own, so when I found a lost pup in the woods, I was overjoyed.” Coy chuckled, amusement glazed over his eyes. “I was very foolish, so I decided to sneak him in and I hoped no one had noticed. As he grew older, he learned of the rules. Especially the ones I had broken. His loyalty for his clan surpassed more than his loyalty for me, so he told Strazan – God of the Yakedo. I was banished because of that pup. Because of Juno.” Coy finished with a quiet cough.
    “You silly old wolf, I did no such thing! I have no loyalty but for my clan and my clan only! Never shall I break the rules, and never shall I trust another wolf, especially garbage like you!” Juno’s eyes changed from strangely calm to wild and fierce.
    “Whatever ye say...” Coy sighed with a flick of his tail in annoyance. Juno’s level of sanity broke, and he burst into a frenzy of wild barks and snarls. He suddenly lunged for Kioshi’s throat, until Coy jumped quickly in from of him. He yelped, and everything went quiet. Coy was lying on the ground, his fur mangled and messy. At his throat were two small bite marks. Blood was dripping down his neck in a fast pace, and he was soon in a pool of his own blood.
    Drip, drip, drip...
    “Co-Coy? Coy, talk to me! Say something!” Kioshi shouted, desperately shaking the body. The only sound he made was a sickening gurgle.
    “Give it up, he’s dead already. When I bit him, I got his vein, which instantly made the blood that was supposed to go to him brain come out of his neck. Although, it was supposed to be for him.” Juno stalked up, a deadly smile on his face. He yowled a twisted kind of sound, making the fur on Shen and Kioshi’s neck raise up, and they back away in fear and disgust.
    Juno grabbed the lifeless Coy by his neck and shook him over and over.
    “Quit, Juno! He isn’t some kind of toy!” Shen shouted.
    “Why do you care? Like I said, he’s already dead.” Juno spat through clenched teeth. Shen stood up and puffed her chest out. Kioshi nodded and stood next to her, his face twisted in anger and rage. Without knowing it at first, Kioshi lunged at Juno. Shen looked in total disbelief.
    “Why, I ought to—!” Kioshi growled. He bit down hard on Juno’s back paw. His pad started to bleed, dripping down Kioshi’s chin.
    “Yuck! Th-the blood of a Yakedo tastes horrible! It tastes like evil and distrust!” He spat, his tongue lolling out. He scrunched up his nose in disgust, sticking his tongue out at the scowling Juno.
    Juno broke into a long, continuous howl, followed by more. They were soon returned. Shen flicked her ears in a couple of directions.
    “Coming from the southeast,” Shen whispered into Kioshi’s ear, flicking her tail to her felt. “About... two more wolves.” Shock laced her words, and she stared blankly ahead.
    “We’re doomed. With Coy... g—gone, we definitely can’t hold off three wolves!” Kioshi yowled frantically, and his tail was twitching uncontrollably.
    “I—I think we still have some time to come up with a plan—!” Shen stopped dead when five more wolves crashed through the bushes.